The Epistle of Barnabas

So they came together and besought Moses that he would offer prayer on their behalf for their healing. But Moses said to them, Whenever one of you, he said, be bitten, let him come to the serpent that is placed upon the tree, and let him hope, in faith that it though dead is able to give life, and he shall straightway be saved. And they did so. In this also you have again the glory of Jesus, for all things are in him and for him.

Again, why does[*](Joshua) Moses say to Jesus, the son of Naue,[*](i.e. Joshua the son of Nun, of which names Jesus and Naue are the Greek forms.) when he gives him, prophet as he is, this name, that the whole

Moses therefore says to Jesus the son of Naue, after giving him this name, when he sent him to spy out the land, Take a book in thy hands and write what the Lord saith, that the Son of God shall in the last day tear up by the roots the whole house of Amalek.

See again Jesus, not as son of man, but as Son of God, but manifested in a type in the flesh. Since therefore they are going to say that the Christ is David’s son, David himself prophesies, fearing and understanding the error of the sinners, The Lord said to my Lord sit thou on my right hand until I make thy enemies thy footstool.

And again Isaiah speaks thus, The Lord said to Christ my Lord, whose right hand I held, that the nations should obey before him, and I will shatter the strength of Kings. See how David calls him Lord and does not say Son.

Now let us see whether this people or the[*](Jews and Christians as heirs of the covenant) former people is the heir, and whether the covenant is for us or for them.

Hear then what the Scripture says concerning the people: And Isaac prayed concerning Rebecca his wife, because she was barren, and she conceived. Then Rebecca went forth to enquire of the Lord and the Lord said to her: two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples in thy belly, and one people shall

You ought to understand who is Isaac and who is Rebecca, and of whom he has shown that this people is greater than that people.

And in another prophecy Jacob speaks more plainly to Joseph his son, saying, Behold the Lord hath not deprived me of thy presence; bring me thy sons, that I may bless them.

And he brought Ephraim and Manasses, and wished that Manasses should be blessed, because he was the elder; for Joseph brought him to the right hand of his father Jacob. But Jacob saw in the spirit a type of the people of the future. And what does he say? And Jacob crossed his hands, and placed his right hand on the head of Ephraim, the second and younger son, and blessed him; and Joseph said to Jacob, Change thy right hand on to the head of Manasses, for he is my first-born son. And Jacob said to Joseph, I know it, my child, I know it; but the greater shall serve the less, and this one shall indeed be blessed.